Why Should Delaware Care?
A Delaware state trooper was killed in an unprovoked attack by a shooter at the Division of Motor Vehicles office in New Castle on Tuesday afternoon. It is the first line of duty killing of an officer in four years.
Delaware State Police on Friday named a suspect accused of killing a state trooper at a Wilmington DMV on Tuesday in an attack that’s drawn national attention.
Police said in a press release that Rahman Rose, a 44-year-old man from Wilmington, shot Cpl. Grade One Matthew T. “Ty” Snook multiple times at a DMV reception desk before he was later killed by police.
Police did not reveal a motive for the killing, and said they are still investigating.
According to the release, Rose walked up behind Snook and shot him with a handgun. After being shot, the release said Snook pushed a DMV employee out of the way, before he was shot again multiple times by Rose.
The release also said Rose waited for law enforcement to arrive, then began to shoot at responding officers, but didn’t target any of the dozens of DMV employees or members of the public at the facility near Wilmington.
“Rose allowed customers to leave the building and remained inside waiting for responding law enforcement,” the release said.
A New Castle County police officer would later see Rose through a window outside of the DMV and shoot him, the release said. Rose died in the hospital, police said.
The release reported three other injuries including a second state trooper who sustained non-life-threatening injuries, as well as two other individuals who had non-gunshot related injuries.
The shooting is the first line of duty killing of a law enforcement officer in Delaware since Delmar Police Cpl. Keith Heacook was killed in an assault by a suspect in 2021. The Delaware State Police has not had a line of duty death since 2017, when Cpl. Stephen Ballard was killed in a shooting at a Bear Wawa.
Snook, a 10-year veteran of the Delaware State Police from Hockessin, was married with a 1-year-old daughter.
He was hired on March 6, 2015, as a member of the 88th Delaware State Police Recruit Class. Following the successful completion of academy and field training, he was assigned to Troop 6 at Prices Corner. Snook served on C-shift throughout his career, where he was “known as a dependable, professional, and committed trooper,” according to DSP officials.
A native Delawarean, Snook was a graduate of Saint Mark’s High School and the University of Maryland, where he was a member of the wrestling team.
“[Snook] loved his community. He served with honor and integrity, and his life was cut short by senseless violence. His last actions were that of a hero; a hero who saved lives today while sacrificing himself,” DSP Col. William Crotty said in comments at a Tuesday night press conference.
The shooting has drawn national attention, including that of Barstool Sports magnate Dave Portnoy, who started a fundraiser selling T-shirts and hoodies honoring the late trooper. Portnoy said in a tweet that 100% of the proceeds would go to Snook’s family, and that he would match any funds raised.
Additionally, a fundraiser set up by the Delaware State Troopers Association had raised more than $256,000 as of Friday afternoon.